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Some Quick Lesson Ideas

Activities for use with the Canada in the Making site

Below are a series of lesson ideas for use with the Canada in the Making Web site. Some may require the use of outside sources.

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Activities:

Act it Out (2)
How Does Canada Compare?
Map it Out
Debate
Possible Sources

Act it Out

Students can create a drama depicting the Aboriginals on one hand, and government officials on another, negotiating a treaty.

Students could play key figures in Canadian history. The play should show the tensions that arose in each period, how they were or were not resolved by the treaty, and how a new set of tensions arose as a result. The periods could be broken up as follows:

Each portion of the play should be no longer than 5-7 minutes long. Students may develop their portion of the play in groups, then come together to co-ordinate the play. See the source list below for possible sources.

How Does Canada Compare?

Students can do a comparison of the methods used by the United States to clear the West, and those used in what is now Canada.

How are they different?
How are they the same?
How do students think Canada's efforts to open the West were influenced by events in the United States?
How do students think Canada's efforts to open the West compare on a moral level with those of the United States? Was the Canadian government simply choosing slower methods to the same ends? Or was there a genuine effort to satisfy the needs of Aboriginal peoples?

Map it Out

Students could make a large map of Canada and trace the treaty areas. After conducting research, they could identify the First Nations or Inuit peoples that live in that area, and the resources that are being produced there. If they have looked at the treaties, they can then discuss whether they feel that the Aboriginals who signed the treaty were fairly dealt with.

Debate

Hold a debate: Many treaties included provisions for Aboriginal nations to maintain their traditional hunting and fishing grounds, without restrictions. Should these rights still be allowed in the context of today's world? A similar debate could be held on land claims.

Possible Sources

Canada in the Making: Canada's Constitutional History
URL: http://www.canadiana.org/citm/
themes/constitution1_e.html

The Canadian Encyclopedia
URL: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com

National Archives of Canada: Canada's Constitutional Evolution
URL: http://www.archives.ca/05/051103_f.html (French)
URL: http://www.archives.ca/05/051103_e.html (English)

National Library of Canada: Canadian Confederation:
URL: http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/2/18/index-e.html

Solon Law Archives: Canadian Constitutional Documents
URL: http://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Canada/